I have moved my blog from blogger to edublogs so if you want to follow me, find me at http://diannekrause.edublogs.org
Thanks for reading! :)
07 March 2008
22 February 2008
Post PETE & C
I don't know about you, but I'm still in an overwhelming fog of WHOA that I got from PETE & C. It is absolutely a great place to be, but as always, it leaves me thinking about all there is out there to learn and wondering where I am going to find the time to learn it all. Not only that, but I know that my teachers are feeling the same exact way, but worse - they still have to teach full time, in a brand-new way. So not only do I have to wade through the notes, resources, links and cool things I learned, but I have to slowly disseminate them to the CFF teachers in my school. Although I would love them all to check out every great new resource I find, I also still have to understand that they have lesson plans to make, grading to do, and so forth. In an effort to consolidate information for the CFF team at my school I have decided to create both a weekly podcast and a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter. It is my hope that the CFF team begins to rely on these updates as they move forward this semester.
28 January 2008
Catching Up
Wow, it's been MONTHS since I posted. Needless to say to those who know me well, I've been extremely swamped (see earlier post on Time) and have not had a chance to reflect enough to blog. Well, the time has come! My life as a French teacher is over (for this year anyways) and now I embark on my new journey as a Classrooms For the Future Technology Integration Coach. WOOHOO! As I start this new chapter in my life, I hope to return here to post my reflections often. Well, more often than before anyways!
Here's to a whole new professional life for me!!
Here's to a whole new professional life for me!!
14 October 2007
Seeing the changes already...
So on Friday I had the opportunity to meet with the majority of the teachers who will be the first 1:1 Classrooms for the Future teachers at Wissahickon. As you know, I am now their coach, mentor, go-to person, etc. One of the teachers pulled me aside during our break and we had a discussion about how she feels she is coming into this at the beginners level and that she may need a lot more support than the others. I told her not to worry, that I would meet them all where they are and we will take it one small step at a time.
Since then, she and I have been communicating about a modified lesson plan she is working on. We had difficulties with video from United Streaming to Power Point, and with the help of my online network, we found several solutions to the problem and the problem is solved. I just received an email from her outlining the modified lesson, and how she will modify it even more once she receives the laptops. I am very impressed with her modified lesson and am amazed that she feels she is a beginner!
I hope each and every one of my teachers jumps into this with the same amount of enthusiasm. If that happens, we will see majorly awesome things happening!
And for the record, I'm feeling much better. Still overwhelmed, but better.
Since then, she and I have been communicating about a modified lesson plan she is working on. We had difficulties with video from United Streaming to Power Point, and with the help of my online network, we found several solutions to the problem and the problem is solved. I just received an email from her outlining the modified lesson, and how she will modify it even more once she receives the laptops. I am very impressed with her modified lesson and am amazed that she feels she is a beginner!
I hope each and every one of my teachers jumps into this with the same amount of enthusiasm. If that happens, we will see majorly awesome things happening!
And for the record, I'm feeling much better. Still overwhelmed, but better.
11 October 2007
Time
Ok, just a warning, this post is going to be just one majorly long vent, at least that's what I'm intending right now as I start it. It may just end up to be a bitch session but I need to get things OUT because I feel so overwhelmed that I need to just let something out and put it into writing before I explode!
So firstly, I'd like to vent about all the information overload I've been getting lately and the LACK OF TIME to process it all. It all started at KTI this summer, but it has gotten infinitely worse since CFF Boot Camp. I KNOW there is a LOT of information out there in the now flat world and I just don't see where people find the TIME to process it all and understand it all. I follow all the 'right' blogs for educational technology. I just don't have the TIME during the work week to read them. Currently my Bloglines to read is at 266 and I know I haven't read them since Sunday. k12online is going on right now and just today I went to the webpage. I went there, saw everything that is available for me to look at, added it to delicious, and left, knowing I have NO TIME to spend on it. WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME????
I'm teaching full time, 5 classes of French - 2 French 5s, 2 French 4s, and 1 French Forum. Although I taught the same courses last year, the 5s and 4s were brand new to me last year. This year I was given a Smartboard and a Macbook, and we now have Moodle in my district. So, inevitably, I'm pretty much re-doing all my courses to integrate the board and as much technology as possible. Just learning how to use the board and integrating it into my current plans is a lot of time. But of course, I'm trying to do other stuff with it so finding resources and tools and then integrating THEM is even more time. Also, I've decided to have a discussion board through the Moodle online for all my courses, with posts and responses in French. Imagine HOW MUCH TIME it is taking me to read all the posts and grade them with effective feedback! I need to think of a new way of assessing the boards... Also, my Forum kids are putting together a wikispace instead of doing the normal Power Point. Of course it is awesome and going well, but very TIME CONSUMING. I've also just assigned my first podcast project and have had to quick learn Audacity to teach the kids. All these tools are so cool, but no one else is trying them, so I have to do it all on my own and take the TIME to learn it all and implement it all! And don't even talk to me about grading papers....
On top of just teaching, I've been semi tech support and go-to person for technology in my high school. Although I really DO LOVE helping the teachers, it TAKES TIME. Every day at lunch people have questions for me. During my prep periods, people find me and ask me questions. After school people stop by. Even in passing in the hallways, people ask me questions about technology. I have stopped walking through the office so often because the receptionist almost always asks me questions about her computer! GRRRR
AND, I've been hired as the CFF Coach for Wissahickon, which is GREAT. But, I'm teaching full-time at least the whole first semester. Although I'm not supposed to really START until they get my substitute, I feel obligated to get the ball rolling with the teachers and I am. So, I spent most of this week (besides the time teaching) putting together my 3-hour workshop with my teachers tomorrow, setting up and finding links for Delicious, meeting with the prinicipals about CFF and talking with the librarian about the future of her job.
And then there's family. I'm married, I have a 4 year old son, an 18 year old step-son and a 14 year old stepdaughter. My 4 year old needs constant attention, and of course I love spending TIME with him, but sometimes I feel that work takes over and there is NO TIME for him. And that just plain makes me sad. And my husband, poor guy, he gets the least amount of my TIME. He is busy too with his work, but we only really see each other 2 or so hours a day. I'm usually working during that time and he is starting to get really angry that I'm not having quality FAMILY TIME.
And weekends? Well weekends are spent cleaning the house, running errands, visiting my other family. and trying to keep my head above water with lesson planning and grading. Sometimes I try to allow myself an hour here and there to read, whether it be fiction or blogs.
Ok, I'm starting to feel better about getting this out... I'm just wondering and really seriously asking all those working mothers out there like me, who love their jobs and love doing what they do... HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME???
So firstly, I'd like to vent about all the information overload I've been getting lately and the LACK OF TIME to process it all. It all started at KTI this summer, but it has gotten infinitely worse since CFF Boot Camp. I KNOW there is a LOT of information out there in the now flat world and I just don't see where people find the TIME to process it all and understand it all. I follow all the 'right' blogs for educational technology. I just don't have the TIME during the work week to read them. Currently my Bloglines to read is at 266 and I know I haven't read them since Sunday. k12online is going on right now and just today I went to the webpage. I went there, saw everything that is available for me to look at, added it to delicious, and left, knowing I have NO TIME to spend on it. WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME????
I'm teaching full time, 5 classes of French - 2 French 5s, 2 French 4s, and 1 French Forum. Although I taught the same courses last year, the 5s and 4s were brand new to me last year. This year I was given a Smartboard and a Macbook, and we now have Moodle in my district. So, inevitably, I'm pretty much re-doing all my courses to integrate the board and as much technology as possible. Just learning how to use the board and integrating it into my current plans is a lot of time. But of course, I'm trying to do other stuff with it so finding resources and tools and then integrating THEM is even more time. Also, I've decided to have a discussion board through the Moodle online for all my courses, with posts and responses in French. Imagine HOW MUCH TIME it is taking me to read all the posts and grade them with effective feedback! I need to think of a new way of assessing the boards... Also, my Forum kids are putting together a wikispace instead of doing the normal Power Point. Of course it is awesome and going well, but very TIME CONSUMING. I've also just assigned my first podcast project and have had to quick learn Audacity to teach the kids. All these tools are so cool, but no one else is trying them, so I have to do it all on my own and take the TIME to learn it all and implement it all! And don't even talk to me about grading papers....
On top of just teaching, I've been semi tech support and go-to person for technology in my high school. Although I really DO LOVE helping the teachers, it TAKES TIME. Every day at lunch people have questions for me. During my prep periods, people find me and ask me questions. After school people stop by. Even in passing in the hallways, people ask me questions about technology. I have stopped walking through the office so often because the receptionist almost always asks me questions about her computer! GRRRR
AND, I've been hired as the CFF Coach for Wissahickon, which is GREAT. But, I'm teaching full-time at least the whole first semester. Although I'm not supposed to really START until they get my substitute, I feel obligated to get the ball rolling with the teachers and I am. So, I spent most of this week (besides the time teaching) putting together my 3-hour workshop with my teachers tomorrow, setting up and finding links for Delicious, meeting with the prinicipals about CFF and talking with the librarian about the future of her job.
And then there's family. I'm married, I have a 4 year old son, an 18 year old step-son and a 14 year old stepdaughter. My 4 year old needs constant attention, and of course I love spending TIME with him, but sometimes I feel that work takes over and there is NO TIME for him. And that just plain makes me sad. And my husband, poor guy, he gets the least amount of my TIME. He is busy too with his work, but we only really see each other 2 or so hours a day. I'm usually working during that time and he is starting to get really angry that I'm not having quality FAMILY TIME.
And weekends? Well weekends are spent cleaning the house, running errands, visiting my other family. and trying to keep my head above water with lesson planning and grading. Sometimes I try to allow myself an hour here and there to read, whether it be fiction or blogs.
Ok, I'm starting to feel better about getting this out... I'm just wondering and really seriously asking all those working mothers out there like me, who love their jobs and love doing what they do... HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME???
08 September 2007
31 August 2007
Transitions
Over the past few weeks, especially the last 3 days, I am finding myself going through a professional transition. I am no longer just a French teacher who uses technology in her courses. I am now a French teacher who is quickly (too quickly!) becoming a leader in the area of technology in education and professional development. My colleagues are now coming to me with technology questions and not just the World Language department members. Teachers school-wide are approaching me and wanting me to help with their transition in becoming a proficient 21st century educator.
I just received word that my school district will receive double the funding expected through Pennsylvania's Classrooms for the Future Grant. I have already been identified as the person who will be the Coach for the district. That means that I will now be supporting double the teachers, students, and amount of equipment than expected. I will also be a full time teacher for the first semester. I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed.
Now I know how the teachers in my district feel! They are also going through transitions. Each educator in my district was just handed a beautiful new macbook 3 days ago. Then, they were introduced to our new district Moodle and instructed briefly on how to join and begin using it. Then, they were trained on a new Student Information System and grade book that they are expected to use right now. Then, they have me present an hour on Web 2.o and its importance in today's schools. Whether they want to or not, they are going to make transitions they don't yet even know about, and, I'm the one they will go to for help and guidance.
I worry about how much time I will have for my courses and my students, not to mention my family! I think this year will be chock-full of transitions for everyone in my life: colleagues, friends, family, students and especially me. But, I am so excited I can't wait!
I just received word that my school district will receive double the funding expected through Pennsylvania's Classrooms for the Future Grant. I have already been identified as the person who will be the Coach for the district. That means that I will now be supporting double the teachers, students, and amount of equipment than expected. I will also be a full time teacher for the first semester. I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed.
Now I know how the teachers in my district feel! They are also going through transitions. Each educator in my district was just handed a beautiful new macbook 3 days ago. Then, they were introduced to our new district Moodle and instructed briefly on how to join and begin using it. Then, they were trained on a new Student Information System and grade book that they are expected to use right now. Then, they have me present an hour on Web 2.o and its importance in today's schools. Whether they want to or not, they are going to make transitions they don't yet even know about, and, I'm the one they will go to for help and guidance.
I worry about how much time I will have for my courses and my students, not to mention my family! I think this year will be chock-full of transitions for everyone in my life: colleagues, friends, family, students and especially me. But, I am so excited I can't wait!
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